Govt, media not opponents, information minister tells the Guardian

The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has said the government and the media are not necessarily opponents, but partners in nation-building even in the face of occasional misunderstanding.  

He stated this during a courtesy visit by the management of the Guardian to his office on Thursday.

“I do not believe that the government and the Fourth Estate are opponents but, rather, partners in the arduous task of nation-building, a task that occasionally comes with divergent perspectives and approaches,” said Idris.

Idris added that the task of nation-building is hinged on a collective responsibility. Even more so, the media, as society’s watchdog, is expected to be more vigilant in protecting the nation’s democracy, peace and unity, without which we may experience serious diminishing returns in the community of nations.

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He said it was important that the media grasp the noble intentions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which is steeped in visionary reforms that will turn around Nigeria’s socio-economic fortunes.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Guardian Newspapers Ltd, Mr Toke Ibru, said their organization, widely acclaimed as the flagship of the Nigerian press, is still a torch-bearer in the consolidation process of the nation’s democracy and will continue to promote the ideals of unity, peace and national security.